Fuse device.



N. J. CONRAD.

FUSE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. I9I4.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N J. CONRAD.

FUSE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APRA. I9I4.

1.220,1 52. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4f i ff UNITED s'rafrEs vr.'iiriziwi OFFICE.

NICHOL'AS J'. CONRAD, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 SCHWEITZER &`CONBAD,

' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FUSE DEVICE.

To all whom it mcy concer#4 l a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyA of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a: certain newand useful Improvement in Fuse Devices,v offwhich the followingis 'a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference bein to the accompanying drawings, forming a.

had

part of this specification.

My invention relates to fuse' devices, and especially 'to a fuse device adapted for extra high potential service.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficient device of the character specified; to arrange for accuracy and eficiency in operation; to prevent injuryl or damageto the device as a result of operation; to arrange for the ready restoration of the device to operative condition after operation; and to secure the foregoing and other desirable Yresults in a simpleand practical manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a fuse device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is across section taken on line 2&2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3vof another modification;

Fig. 5 Vis a' longitudinal vertical sectionA of another modified form of device;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 5

Fig. 7 isa view of another modification; Fig. 8 is across section taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7. y

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. showing the method of restoring the device to opera.- tive condition after operation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and'2, I show a device-having a tubular -member `1, pref? erably made of insulating material such as glass. provided with a cap member 2, preferably made of metal and adapted to close the lower end'of the tube 1. This cap 2 has a wing or blade 3 by which connection may be made with contact jaws. Atthe .upper end of the tube 1 is another cap member`4,

preferably made of metalv and adapted to" close the upper end portion of the tube 1. This member 4 also has a 'wing or lug 5 for contact purposes. vMounted upon the Specification of Letters Patent.

The lower end of this member is 7, which may be of either metal or insulat ing material. This lis-fitted to the topv of e l Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

l Application illed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 829,556.

- topiof the member 4 is a cover or top piece i Be it known that IN1oHoLAs J. CONRAD,

central aperture 8 smaller at its lower end than at its upper end so as to form a shoul# der 9. Upon this shoulder is placed a disk 10 which is preferably made of insulating material such as fiber. This disk 10 is perforated, having a through whichis extended a post or rod 11 which extends down into the tube 1, and forms a terminal. Thelower end of the rod 11 is fitted into a coupling 12,' to which also is fitted the upper end -of a flexible conductor 13, which latter extends down in the tube 1 and is soldered to the bottom of the same. The object of this arrangement is to permit 'the upper rod 11 to be replaced by another rod-if the upper end of the same central aperture,

becomes burned or mutilated by the fuse in operating. A fine wire 14 which may be of steel is extended from side to side of the upper face of the cap member 4, bridging the central opening of the same as shown in Fig. 2, and passing through an aperture in the upper end of the part 1 1. A fuse 16 extends from one side of the cap member 4 to the central bar 11, being conveniently soldered in position at both ends. A spring 18 is arranged within the tube 1, being se-A cured at its lower end to the cap member 2v and at its upper end to the lower end of the bar 11.- The spring 18 tends to draw the Vbar 11l downwardly, but this tendency is opposed by the finewire 14. If desired a movable member 19 having a central ori# flee 20 which is preferably cone shaped' may be employed, in which case it wouldV be secured for movement with the bar 11 as by cross piece 21.

Thus in operationlthe current will -pass between the cap members 2 and 4 passing through the conductor 13 and bar 11, `and through the ne wire 14 and fuse 16. .An vabnormally strong current will cause operation of the device, bv first fusing the fuse 16, as a' result of which all of the currentl ios- I is thrown upon the fine wire v14, vwhich Iupper edges thereupon fuses also. This releases the bar 11 which forms a movable fuse terminal, permitting the spring 18 to draw the said terminal downwardly and with it the member 19 whose conical aperture 20 forces or directs liquid 22, preferablyrconined in the tube 1, upwardly toward the top of the member 1. As a result the gap at the fuse opening is widened by the downward movement of the -bar or terminal 11, and the liquid is directed into such gap so as to extinguish the arc by the action of the liquid directing member 19.

lt will be seen that the fuse 16 and its cooperating fine wire 14 which also has a fuse action, are really outside of the insulating tube 1 andare confined in a separate chamber which may be called an explosion chamber. This makes it impossible for the explosion or operation of the fuses or either of them to damage the tube 1 which when made of glass is, of course, more or less fragile and breakable. To restore the operative condition of the device after operation a new fuse and fine wire may be inserted by removing the top 7 and then replacing the same. The top 7 acts as a vent, being blown od' when the fuse operates. The disk 10, is, it will be seen, firmly seated against movement into or toward the tube 1. Therefore operation or blowingof the 'fuse within the fuse chamber does not have any eect in forcing the disk 10 downwardly. However, when the spring 18 is actuated, causing an arc to be drawn more or less into the tube 1 at the end of the terminal or post l1, any excessive pressure so generated within the tube l will cause the disk 10 to be blown outwardly, thereby permitting excess pressure tobe discharged out through the upper end ofthe tube 1 and so protecting 'said tube from breakage or damage.

Tn Fig. 3 T show a modification in which there are used three fuses 16-16, instead of one, as shown in Fig. 2, and 'in Fig. 4, four such fuses are used.

Referring to the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, lt show a device quite similar to that vof preceding figures, but having a slight di'erence in construction of the explosion chamber containing the fuse. ln this construction a metal disk vent 25 is arranged at the top of the metal cap member 4, the side walls 26 of said member being extended up so as to form sufficient space for the ex` plosion chamber below the disk 25. This metal disk '25 is preferably soldered to the of the walls 26 by low temperature solder. The' under side of the disk 25 is preferably provided with a layer 27 of asbestos or similar heat insulating material. In this case there are shown a plurality, preferably six, main fuses 28-28, y which fuses are held in place by screws 29-29. A cross wire 30 of steel or other material is meente also shown, the same being held by screws 31-31. The explosion chamber 32 may be filled with inert air or filler as the case with inclosed fuses. This device is also designed for use with the ferrule type clip instead of knife blade clip, the cap members 4a and 2a not. being provided with blades or lugsas in the previous construction.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7, S and 9 l show a structure particularly adapted to serve as a refillable fuse. This construction involves a removable top member 34 having a screw threaded connection with the upper annular rim portion 35 of the cap member 4b. The top member 34 may be removed, it will be seen, by unscrewing it from .the top of the member 4b. As a preferred arrangement the screw threads on the parts 34 and 35 are preferably shellacked so as to hermetically seal the oint between said parts. A gasket 36 may be used if desired. The top member 34 is preferably constructed with a metallic disk 37 which may be soldered to the upper edge of the rim portion 34, low melting solder being preferably used. The member 4b is preferably provided with knobs or projections 38 and the top member 34 with knobs or projections 39 by which wrenches or special tools may be engaged to turn said parts relative to one another.

As a further improvement the post or rod member 11a is made of two parts 40 and 41 joined together and the upper part 40 is provided with a screw 42 holding the fuses 43 in position. `When the fuse blows the top member 34 may be unscrewed and removed and then a screw driver may be inserted to unscrew the screw 42 and then a long rod 44, (Fig. 9) may be inserted in the device and caused to engage the upper end of the rod portion 40 as by screwing it into the top end of'said rod, so that the rod 44 may then be lifted and the post 11t drawn up to permit resetting of the fuse. The disk 37 will be torn or blown od when a certain pressure is lltr reached by the blowing of one or more ofthe fuses in the fuse or explosion chamber 45. The part 40 of the post 11a may be removed and a new part substituted in its place if the first mentioned part is burnt by arcing during severe operation. It will be seen that l the customer or user may re-fuse these fuse devices himself without soldering of any kind and by the use of ordinary simple tools. The customer' or user may be provided with extra terminals 40 extra annular rings or top members 34 with the thin sheet metal vents soldered thereon and with various sizes of fuse wire and arc extinguishing liquid such as carbon tetra-chlorid, so that he may refuse and refill the devices.

Tn the appended claims I employ the vphrase relatively non-fusible as designating a part which the normal action of the device is not required to be fused and is not VVintended to be subject to fusion. This result is secured preferably by arrangement and proportioning 0f the parts.

It will beunderstood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be seen as one modification, for example, that the liquid directing member 19 may be .omitted and the device constructed without such member. Other changes and modifica.-

tions will also -be apparent.

What I claim as my invention is:

l.' In combination a relatively stationary terminal, a relatively movable terminal, said terminals being relatively nonusible, a fuse connecting said terminals, means for moving said movable terminal away from therstationary terminal in a direction substantiallyV at right angles to the length of the fuse and non-conducting means lying at the corner between the movable terminal and the fuse for causing the arc to be drawn about said corner.

' 2. In combination a fuse, a stationary terminal engagingthe ends of the fuse, a movextending across said opening and connected at its ends with'said terminal, a second terminal engaging said fuse at a point in said opening, said terminals being relativelyv nonfusible a springacting uponone of saidv terminals and tending to withdraw it from said opening in a direction crosswise of the 'length of the fuse and non-conducting means lying at the corner between the movable terminal and the fuse for causing the fuse to be 'drawn vabout said corner. 4. The combination of a permanent annu lar terminal, a fuse extending across the opening of said terminal and connected with said annular terminal at points at the side of said opening, a movable terminal engaging said fuse at a point in said opening said terminals being relatively non-fusible and spring means connected with said second mentioned terminal and acting upon the same in a direction crosswise o the length of the fuse.

5. The combination of a permanent annular terminal, a fuse extending across thel opening of said terminal andconnected with the 'terminal at the sides of said opening, a second terminal engaging said fuse at a point in said opening said terminals'being relatively non-fusible and spring means connected with said second mentioned terminal'and acting upon the same ina direction '.cross'wise of the length of the fuse, said s ring means being held normally underten- Vsion by said fuse'.

6. The c'ombinat'ion of a permanent terminal having an opening therethrough, a plurality of ifuses extended across said opening atdiferent places and meeting one another at a common point in the opening, a relatively movable'terminal engaging said fuses at their common meeting point, said terminals being relatively non-fusible and spring means connected with said second mentioned terminal and acting upon the same in a direction crosswise of the length of said fuses.

7. The combination of a pair of chambers arranged side by side with a wall between the same, a fuse inY one of said chambers extending lengthwise of said Wall, said fuse having a relatively stationary terminal in said chamber, a spring in the other of said chambers, and a relatively movable terminal connected with saidspring and passing through said wall so as to be connected with said fuse and act u-pon the same in adirection crosswise voli' itslength said stationary terminal lying outside the line of movement of said movable terminal and non-conducting means lying along. the line of movement of -said movable means and defining a corner about which the arc is drawn.

8. In combination, a tubular casing con taining a spring, a second casing secured to the end of saidv tubular casing, said second casing forming a Vfuse chamber, a vwall between said tubular-casing and said second casing, said wall having an aperture therethrough, a stem projecting into said aperture, a transverse supporting wire across said opening, said stem being fastened to the central part of said wire, fuse means controlling the breaking ofsaid wire, said fuse means being contained in said fuse chamber, said stem having a removable top -portion adapted to carry'the arc and a spring Yfor drawing the stem away from said fuse chamber. f

9. The combination of two chambers.ar-\ ranged side by side with a metallic wall between the same, said wall forming a fuse terminal and having an aperture, a fuse in one of said chambers extending across the aperture in said wall and connected to said terminal at the side of said aperture, a spring in the other chamberA and a second fuse terminal connected with said spring and extending through the aperture in said wall and connectedv with said fuse, said spring acting upon said fuse in a direction transversely of its length.

l0. The combination of two chambers ari I ranged Side by side with a metallic wall between the same, said wall forming a fuse terminal and having an aperture, afuse in one of said chambers extending across the aperture 1n said wall and connected to said terminal at the side of said aperture, a

spring in the other chamber and a second fuse terminal connected with said spring and extending through the aperture in said wall and connected with said fuse, said spring acting upon said fuse in a direction transversely of its length, and a closure made of insulating material and arranged to fit said aperture, said closure having a small opening for said second mentioned terminal.

ll. The combination of two chambers arranged side by side with a metallic wall between the same, saidwall forming a fuse terminal and having an aperture, a fuse in one of said chambers extending across the aperture in said wall and connected to said terminal at the side of said aperture, a spring in the other chamber and a. second fuse terminal connected with said spring and extending through the aperture in said wall and connected with said fuse, said spring acting upon said fuse in a direction transversely of its length, anda closure made of insulating material and arranged to tit said aperture, said closure having a small opening for said second mentioned terminal, said spring being held under tension by said fuse.

1Q. A fuse device comprising a tubular member made of insulating material, a metallic member secured to one end of said tubular lnember and having a head Jforming a fuse chamber, arc extinguishing liquid and a spring arranged within said tubular meming diametrically of said annular terminal titi and engaging said centrally disposed spring actuated terminal to hold the same against movement.

14. A fuse device comprising a tubular member of fragile material, a metallic member secured to the end of said tubular member and having a head forming a fuse cham ber, arc extinguishing liquid anda spring arranged Within said tubular member, a terminal' post centrally located Within said tubular member at one end thereof and engaging said spring, an annular rportion of said head forming the other terminal, main vtherethrough and having a shoulder about tubular member at one end thereof and engaging said spring, an annular portion of said head forming the other terminal, main fuses extended from said head to said post, an auxiliary fuse of relatively line strong high resistance wire, also extending between said annular terminal and said post, and a removable disk forming one side of said fuse chamber.

16. A fuse device comprising a tubular member of fragile material, a .metallic member secured to the end of said tubular member and having a head forming a fuse chamber, arc extinguishing liquid and a spring arranged within said tubular member, a terminal post centrally located within said tubular member at one end thereof andrengaging said spring, an annular portion of said head forming the other terminal, main fuses extended from said head to said post, an auxiliary fuse of relatively ine strong high resistance wire, also extending between said annular terminal and said post, and a removable ring or collar forming part of said head and having a disk removably secured to said ring or collar.

17. lln combination, a sleeve of insulation closed at its bottom, a metallic cham-l ber mounted on top of and closing off said sleeve, said chamber comprising a fuse chamber, a wall between said sleeve and said chamber, said wall having an aperture said aperture, a disk of insulating material resting upon said shoulder, said disk having a central hole, a terminal stem projecting through said hole, a wire having its ends fastened to said wall and forming a suspension for said stem, and a spring for pulling as to form an opening in the casing to vent the same of the fuse gases, said movable part being held normally in position by solder being removable and being vheld normally in position by solder adapted to yield by the explosion of the fuse so as to vent said casing, a second casing made of' insulating material and secured -to said first mentioned casing, a'spring and arc extinguishing liquid in said second mentioned casing, and a terminal connected With said spring 'and vextended into said first mentioned casing and connected therein to said fuse, there being a wall between said casings through which said terminal passes.

20. The combination of a casing forming a fuse chamber, said casing having a removable part for venting, fuse terminals in said chamber, one of said fuse 'terminals being movable, means for moving said terminal in a direction away from said vent when the fuse operates, a second casing adjacent to said first casing, said second casing containing means f'or moving said terminal, and

a movable part for venting said second men-v tioned casing, said part being combined with means for preventing its movement into said second casing, but permitting its movement away from the same and out through the vent in said first mentioned casing.

2l. The combination of a tubular'member forming a liquid chamber and provided with a movable fuseiterminal, and means for shifting said terminal to-lengthen the spark gap, a cap member for said tubular member', said cap member having a portion forming a terminal adapted to coperate with said movable terminal, atop fitted removably to said cap member, saidtop and cap member forming a fuse chamber, said cap member' having an aperture forming an opening between said fuse chamber and the interior of said tubular member, and a disk of insulating material fitted loosely over said aperture, said movable terminal being passed through said disk, and fuse controlled means for holding said movable terminal in position.

22. The combination of avtubular member forming a liquid chamber and provided witha movable fuse terminal, and means for shifting said terminal to lengthen the spark gap, a cap member for said tubular member, said cap member having a portion forming a terminal adapted to cooperate with said movable terminal, a top fitted re-- movably to said cap member, said top and cap member forming a fuse chamber, said cap member having an aperture forming an opening between said fuse chamber and the interior of said tubular member, and a disk of insulating material fitted loosely over said aperture, said movable terminal being passed through said disk, and means for holding said movable terminal in position, said holding means comprising a fine Wire adapted to serve as a fuse.

23. The.combination of a tubular casing,

a second casing located at one end of said first mentioned casing, said second mentioned casing being formed in part by a removable cover, and having a wall portion opposite said cover forming. a wall .or partitlon 'betweenthe two casings, said Wall portion having an opening provided With a shoulder nearest said first mentioned casing, a removable closure for said opening, a terminal in said first mentioned casing extending through said closure into the second mentioned casing, a fuse extended across said opening and engaging said terminal,-

and spring means in the first mentioned casing engaging a portion of said terminal located in said casing.

2l. The combination of two closed casings located side by side with a wall between them, said wall being provided with an openingbetween said chambers, a movable closure for said opening, a fuse in one chamber and a spring in the other chamber, said spring having a connection with'said fuse extending through said closure said closure being movable out of said opening.

25. The combination of a casing forming a fuse chamber, said casing having a removable part for venting, a second casing adjacent to said first casing, said second casing containing a spring and also having a removable part for venting, a fuse in said fuse chamber, andmeans for connecting' said fuse with said spring.

26. The combination of a tubular casing made of glass, a metallic casing secured at one end of said tubular casing and forming a closure for such end of the same, a'fuse in said metallic casing, and a spring in said .tubular casing, connected to said fuse.

27. The combination of a tubular casing made of insulating material, a metallic cas-v ing secured -at one end of said tubular casing and forming a closure for such end of the same, a fuse inclosed Within said metallic casing, a spring in said tubular casing, said spring acting to lengthen the distance between the fuse terminals, and a liquid director located within said tubular casing and secured to said spring, said liquid director having a tapering opening, the small end of Which is nearest said fuse casing, said fuse casing communicating With said tubular casing through a restricted opening, said liquid director being adapted to project said liquid into said opening.

28. Thecombination ofa, tubular casing made of insulating material, a metallic casing secured at one end of said tubular casing and forming a closure for such end of the same, a fuse in said metallic casing, a spring held under restraint by said fuse and located in said tubular casing, the partition or Wall between said casings being provided with a movable portion, arc extinguishing liquid in said tubular casing and a liquid director confined within said tubular casing and secured to the spring therein near said fuse casing, said liquid director having a tapering opening the relatively small end of which is adjacent said fuse casing and in proximity to said movable portion, saidliquid director being adapted to project liquidthrough the opening in the wall between the tubular casing and the metallic casing which opening is normally closed by said movable portion.

29. rl`he combination of a tubular casing containing a spring, a second casing secured to one end of said tubular casing and forming a fuse chamber, a. fuse in said chamber, and a terminal connecting said spring and fuse, said terminal comprising an upper' removable end part which is adapted to carry the arc.

30. ln a fuse of the class described, a sleeve forming the ,main body of the fuse, a body of arc extinguishing liquid in said sleeve, a stationary terminal external to said sleeve, a movable terminal having a part thereof external to said sleeve, a fusible element connected between said stationary terminal and the part of said movable terminal which is external to said sleeve, means for moving said movable terminal entirely into said sleeve and for bringing the same into contact with said body of liquid, and a separate inclosing casing inclosing said stationary terminal and said fuse, and a portion of said movable terminal, said casing being mechanically connected to said sleeve, and external to said sleeve. 1 y

31. In a fuse of the class described, a chamber' substantially' filled -vvith arc vextinguishing liquid, a second chamber adjacent said first chamber, but external thereto, a fusible member in said second chamber', said second chamber' having means to vent an explosion of the fuse externally of said first chamber, a relatively movable terminal connected to said fuse and projecting into the second chamber from the first chamber, and

means for moving said terminal out of said second chamber and into said arc extinguishing liquid.

32. ln a fuse, a main body comprising a sleeve of insulation, substantially'full of arc 1extinguishing liquid, a relatively movable terminal extending above said sleeve and out of said liquid, a fuse connected to said termi- `nala fuse chamber above said sleeve for in- `closing the fuse and a relatively stationary terminal for saidfuse in said chamber, said fuse chamber being organized to keep the gases from a fuse explosion out of the sleeve. 38. ln a fuse, a main body comprising a hollow cylinder of insulation, said cylinder being substantially filled .with arc extinguishing liquid, a ,fuse chamber above and external to said sleeve and united to said sleeve, a fuse in said chamber, a terminal projecting into said chamber from said sleeve, means to vent said chamber' independently of said sleeve, and means for moving said terminal out of said chamber into the liquid in said sleeve.

3l. lin a fuse, a main body comprising a sleeve ofinsulation, said sleeve being sub` stantially filled with arc extinguishing liquid, a fusible member, a relatively movable stud or terminal connected to said fusible member, a cylindrical fuse chamber for inclosing said fuse secured to said sleeve, said chamber being short in length relative to its diameter, and having a lower and an upper wall, the lower Wall being perforated to receive the end of said stud or terminal, the opening in said Wall beingabove and out of said liquid, and independent means to move said stud or terminal out of said chamber into said liquid.

ln'witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my nameithis 31st day of March, A. D. 1914.

NlCHULAS J. @UNR al).

Witnesses:

A. lrrDA JONES, HAZEL A. Jones. 

